1.e4
c5
The Sicilian Defense
2.Nf3
Preparing 3.d4
2...e6
Popular defense, often leading to the Kan, Paulsen, or Scheveningen
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nc6
...a6 is the Kan.
5.Nc3
Qc7
The usual home for the queen, though usually prepared first with ...a6. Now on Nb5, the queen tucks to b8 and then gains time on the Nb5 with ...a6
6.Be3
a6
7.Qd2
Uncommon and looks awkward. Without having played...d6, black can still respond with Nf6 and Bb4going after the white e4-pawn
7...Nf6
8.0-0-0
Bb4
Threatening the e-pawn
9.f3
Ne5
[9...d5?!
10.a3
Bxc3
11.Qxc3
dxe4
12.Nxc6
Qxc6
13.Qe5
exf3
14.Bg5
Bd7
(14...fxg2
15.Bxf6
Bd7
(15...gxh1Q
16.Rd8#
) 16.Bxg2
Qxg2
17.Rhg1
Qf2
18.Bxg7
Rc8
(18...Rg8
19.Qc7+-
) 19.Qe4+/-
) ]
10.Nb3
b5
idea Bb7
11.Qe1
threat Nxb5 because BxQ is now NOT check [11.Kb1
Be7
12.Qf2
Rb8
13.g4
h6
14.h4
d6
15.Rg1
g5
16.Rh1
Rg8
17.hxg5
hxg5
18.Ba7
Rb7
19.Bd4
Bd7
20.Qg3
b4
21.Ne2
Nc4
22.Nec1
Bb5
23.Bxc4
Bxc4
24.Nd2
e5
25.Nxc4
Qxc4
26.b3
Qc6
27.Bb2
a5
28.Qe1
a4
29.Nd3
Qb5
30.Qd2
Nd7
31.Rh7
Nf8
32.Rh6
Ng6
33.Qh2
Rc7
34.Rh7
Bf6
35.Qd2
Rb7
36.Ne1
Be7
37.Ng2
Nf4
38.Ne3
axb3
39.cxb3
Ra7
40.Nf5
Ra6
41.Rc1
Qa5
42.Ba1
Ra8
43.Rc6
Nd3
44.a4
Nc5
45.Qd5
Ne6
46.Rc8+
1-0 Bauer,C-Skripchenko Lautier,A/Aix les Bains 2003/CBM 97 (46)]
11...Be7
[11...Bxc3
12.bxc3
Nc4
13.Bc5
With excellent play on the dark squares as compensation for the pawn structure; 11...Bb7
12.Nxb5
axb5
13.Qxb4
]
12.f4
Nc4
13.e5
Without the black bishop on b7, the Nf6 cannot play to d5
13...Ng4
14.Bd4
Overprotecting the key e5-pawn and threatening h3.
14...f5
idea of lessing the power of the Bd4 and bringing the Ng4-h6-f7
15.h3
Nh6
Of course, the knight on the rim is dim. Certainly true here. The knight stays on h6 for the rest of the game
16.Qf2
Dominating the queenside dark-squares
16...Bb7
Seeking counrter-play along the long diagonal
17.Bxc4
bxc4
[17...Qxc4
18.Na5
]
18.Bb6
Qc6
19.Na5
The Na5 and Nc3 control the diagonal
19...Qxg2
[19...Qc8
20.Rd4+/-
]
20.Qd4
threat Qxd7 and Rhg1xg7
20...Bc8
Creating a safety square on b7 for the nearly trapped Qg2
21.Bc5
Trading white's "bad" dark-squared bishop for black's good bishop.
21...Bxc5
22.Qxc5
threat Rg1xg7 and Qe7
22...Kf7
Diagram White to move and win... what do you think of Rg1xg7 and Qe7+
23.Qe3!?
first stealing the f3 escape square. Not the prettiest win, but it's solid [23.Rdg1?!
Qf3
24.Rxg7+?
Kxg7
25.Qe7+
Kg8!
(25...Nf7
26.Rg1+
Kh6
27.Qf6+
Kh5
28.Rg5+
Kh4
29.Rg4+
Kxh3
30.Qh4#
) 26.Rg1+
(26.Qg5+
Kf7
27.Qf6+
Kg8=
) 26...Ng4
27.Rxg4+
(27.hxg4
Qe3+-+
) 27...fxg4
28.Qg5+=
; 23.Rhg1!
Qxh3
(23...Qf3
24.Nd5
The reason for maintaining the rook on d1 24...exd5
25.e6+
dxe6
(25...Kxe6
26.Rge1+
Kf6
27.Qe7+
Kg6
28.Qg5+
Kf7
29.Re7+
Kf8
30.Qxg7#
) 26.Qc7+
Ke8
27.Rxg7+-
) 24.Nd5!+-
exd5
(24...Re8
25.Nc7
; 24...Ng8
25.Nb6
) 25.Qxd5+
Kf8
26.Qxa8
]
23...Rb8
Creating "luft" for the queen on a8
24.Rhg1
Qa8
25.Nxc4
threat Nd6, All of black's pieces are out-of-play
25...Rf8
26.Nd6+
Kg8
[26...Ke7
27.Rxg7++-
]
27.Rxg7+!
[27.Rxg7+
Kxg7
28.Rg1+
Kh8
29.Qg3
Rg8
30.Qxg8+
Nxg8
31.Nf7#
] 1-0